Load-brake apparatus.



W. V. TURNER.

LOAD BRAKE APPARATUS. APPLICIUMMI MLED AUG.27,1910.

Patented Feb. 18, 9l3.

4 SHEBTSHSHEEI' l.

mam@ l TN ESSES INVENTOH W. yV. TU RNER. LOAD BRAKE APPARATUS. APPLICATION FILED AUG.27, 1910.

' Patented Feb. 18, 1913.

87 I mvENTon l; Atiy.

Patented Feb. 18, 1913-l 4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

INVENTQR W. V. TURNER.

LOAD BRAKE APPARATUS. APPLICATION FILED 111111.27, 1910.

1,053,246. Patented Feb.18',1913.

4 SHEETS-s112214.

WTNESSES INVENTR UNITED srarnsrarunr ernten.

WALTER V. TURNER, F EDGEWOOD, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO THE WESTING- HOUSE AIR BRAKE COMPANY, OF PITTS 'OF PENNSYLVANIA.

To all whom, it may concern:

Be-it'known that I, WALTER V. TURNER, a citizen of the .United States, residing .at Edgewood, in th'e county of Allegheny and 5 State of Pennsylvania, have invented new and useful Improvements in Load-Brake Apparatlis,of which the following is a speciication.

This invention relates .to iui'd pressure brakes, and more particularly to a brake apparatus adapted 'to provide heavy braking power on loaded cars and light braking power on empty or lightly loaded cars. The main object of myvinvention is to provide a generally improved brake appa' .ratus of the4 above character. l

ln the accompanying drawings; Figure 1 is an isometricview of an empty and load brake apparatus with my improvements applied thereto; Fig. 2 a sectional diagram-j matic view of the controlling valve mechanism forthe empty and load brake appa-l ratus, showing the relative positions of the parts when there is little Vor no air pressure .25 in the brf're system; Fig. 3 a ,similar view, showing the relative positions of the parts when the pressure in or above a certain predetermined degree; Fig. 4 a similar view, showing the relative positions of the parts when set todo-ad. posivtion and with the brakes applied in service; Fig. 5 a sectional view in detail of the take up.\vedge mechanism; Fig. 6 a similar view of a modified form of the take up wedge mechanism: Fig, 7 a central sectional view of the triple valve of the main brake equipment showing the application of one feat-ure ot' the` invention: Fig. S a face view ofthe plate upon which the controlling handle is mounted. showing the handle iu light position; Fig. 9 a similar view. showing the parts inv load position; and Fig. 10 a' sect-ion on the lino r/--o of Fig. 9.

As shown ttiagrammatically in Fig. l, the empty and load bral-:e apparatus may comprise a main brake equipment for controlling thc brat-:wl on empty or lightly loaded cars and a secomlary brake equipment which operates with tht'I main brali'c equipnlcnt to provide lincreased braking powcr `on the loaded cars. The main brake equipment comprises tht` l ual brake cylinder l. tho brakc cylinder piston rod of which is conoci-tod to the brainI operating lcvcr 2. au\iliar v reservoir 3, and triple valve det'he brake system is at` BURGH, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION LOAD-BRAKE APPARATUS.

Specification of Letters Patent;

` Application filed August 27, 1910. Serial No.

Patented Feb. 1s, 1913. 579,296.

`vice 4 connected to the train pipe 5. The

secondary' brake equipment comprises a, brake cylinder G, the brake cylinder piston rod of which is connected to an auxiliary 'brake lever 7 having the one end connected by achain 8 to the brake cylinder piston rod of the main brake cylinder l, an auxiliary reservoir 9, and an empty 4and load brake controlling valve mechanism 10 which includes a triple valve portion, connected. to the train pipe 5 for controlling` the secondary brake equipment. The controlling valve mechanism l() lis in some respects similar to that disclosed in my prior pending application Serial No. 468,607, filed November 20, 1908, and com'- prises a casing 11 having a piston chamber 12 connectedA by passage V14 tothe train pipe 5 and containing piston 13 of the triple valve portion, and a valve chamber 15 connected by passage 16 to the auxiliary reservoir 9 and containing a slide valve 17 adapted to be operated bythe piston 13. This triple valve portion does not directly control communication to the brake cylinder 6 but depends 'upon the position of a cutout valve mechanismcomprising a piston 18 contained in a piston chamber 19 and subject on one side tothe pressure of a coil spring 2 0, a slide valve 21 contained in a valve chamber 22, and 'a puppet valve 23 contained in a valve chamber 24, said valves being operated by the movement of the piston 1S.

The operation ot' the cut-out valve mechanism is controlled by a combined automatic and manually operated valve mechanism consisting of a two 'part piston having a loosey fitting piston head 25 attached to a manually operated rod 2b anda tight tit-- ting .piston head 27 provided with a valve stem 28 on the end of which is a seating ring 29. Said piston is contained in a piston chamber 30 and the stem 28 fits within a chamber 31. A port 32 opens into the chamber 3l and leads to a passage 33 which is adapted to be normally supplied 4with tiuid at the pressure carried in the brake s vstem. the seat ring 2t) being adapted when seated to expose only a small area of the stem 2S to this pressure` but upon liting from its seat the full area ot' the stem is subjected to said pressure. The piston head 25 is subject on one side to the pressure of a heavy coil spring 34 of sufficient tension to return the parts. to normal position when the pressure in the brake system falls below a certain predetermined point. The casing 11 is also provided, with a small piston chamber 35 havinga port 36 opening into the passage 33 and containing a pistou 37 having a seat ring 38 adapted when seated to expose only a restricted area'of the piston to 4the pressure of the brake system as supplied through the port 36. rlhe piston 37 is subject on one side to the pressure of a coil'spring 39, the tension of which is adapted to be varied by means of a movable abutment carried by a spring 4rod 40. The rod 40 is attached to an arm 41 carried by lthe rod" 26, so that tension of the spring 39 dependsupon the position of the manually operated rod' 26. The springside of the piston head and the piston 37 is constantly open to the atmosphere through an exhaust passage 42.

. The rod 26 is pivotedto an operating lever 43 which is pivotally fulcrumed on a bar 44 secured tothe casing 11 and said lehaving a piston chamber 48,containingv a piston 49. The piston 49 is provided with a piston rod 50 for loperating a wedge block 51. To the brake lever 7 is attached a fulcrum rodA 52 havinga'fork 53 on one end, adapted to inclose the wedge block 51 and carrying a roller 54 adapted to engage the inclined portion 'ofthe Wedge block 51.

` With little or' no airy pressure in the brake ysystem, the parts assume the positions shown in Fig. 2. Assuming the hand lever 46 set to the light position, upon charging the system with fluid under pressure, as soon as the pressure on the piston 37 exceeds the ltension .of the spring 39', which preferably is adjusted toresist about 60 pounds, said piston -is lifted from its seat and the'full area of the. piston being then exposed to Huid pressure, the piston is thereby rapidlyshifted to its outerposition, as shown infFig. 3, in

.the piston 18 Fluid under pressure thereupon Hows to the 55, leading to one side of which a passage is openedl tto passage 36.

. chamber at the inner face of the piston '18.

In light position, the pistons 25 and 27 are in their outer positions and uncover a passage 56 leading from the spring side of the .piston 18 to the piston chamber 30. 'The spring chamber of the piston is thus open to the atmosphere through the port 42 and the piston 18 is consequently shifted to its outer 'from its seat.

seat by the fluid pressure in chamber 19, compressing the spring 30.- In this position of the piston 18, a cavity 57 in the valve 2l connects a passage 58, leading tothe pressure side of the take-up piston '49, with an exhaust port 59, and the valve 23y is closed. Fluid under pressure also flows from the train pipe 5 through the usual feed groove (SOaround the triple valve piston 13 and charges the auxiliary reservoir 9 through the passage 16, leading from the 'valve chainber .15 to the auxiliary reservoir.

The triple valve piston 13 in full release position, as shown in Fig. 3,` connects 'a passage 62, leading from the valve chamber 24, through a cavity 63 in the valve 17, with exhaust port 64.

If it is desired to make an application of the brakes, the train pipe pressure is 'reduced in the usual manner and air is suppliedtothe main brake cylinder 1 by the operation of the triple valve 4. The triple valve piston 13 may also move to application position through Vthe reduction in train pipey pressure, but fluid vsupplied to the passage 62 through the service'port 65 of the valve 17 cannot flow to the brake cylinder 6 bccause the valve 2.3 is closed. Thus on the lightly loaded or empty cars only the brak- 'in ower due tothe main brake c linder is obtained.

On the loaded cars the handle 46 is ad- `justedto the load position, as shown in Fig. 9, and the rod 26 is operated by the lever 43 to shift the piston 25 to the position shown in Fig. 4. Between the pistoirheads 25 and 27 is interposed a spring 66 which is adapted, when the piston head 25 is in load position, to resist a certain degree of pressure on the small area of the stem 28 which is exposed in the seated position to the pressure supplied to port 32,- preferably about 20 pounds. Thus ifA the pressure in the system is more than 2() pounds, the resistance of the ,spring is overcome and the stem' 28 is lifted from its seat exposing the full area of said stem to fluid under pressure. This pressure is suilicient to rapidly shift the piston head 27 to the position shown in Fig. 4. In this position communication is opened through a port 67 frein the chamber 31 to the chamber 30 and the fluid thus admitted to the piston head 27 operates to `securely maintain thel same in its load position. Thel passage 56 `is cut oif from the atmosphere by the piston head 27 in this position and fluid is supplied thereto from the piston chamber 30, thus permitting the fluid pressures to equalize on opposite' sides of the piston 18. With the pressures equalized, the spring 20 operates to shift the piston 18 to the position shown, in which the passage 5 8 is opened to the valve chanfib/eri` 22 and the valve 23 is lifted l lf an application of the brakes is now made, with the parts in load with the passage 62 so that fluid is supplied from the auxiliary reservoir 9 4to valve lposition both the main chamber 24 and thence flows to valve chamber 22 and through passage 58 to the take up'piston chamber 48. The piston 49i's thereupon shifted outwardly, and operates the-'Wedge block 5l, which in turn causes t-he roller 54 to ride up on the wedge incline and thereby pull out the rod 52. The brake lever 7 of the secondary brake cylinder 6 is thus shifted to compensate for diiferences in leverage between the lever 2 of the main brake cylinder and the lever 7. Also, if de. sired, this take-up mechanism may be arranged to take up slack due to the initial movement of themaiii brake cylinder piston.

When vthe piston 49 has moved out to the limit of its travel, the roller 54 engageson the surface 68 of the wedge block and the rod.52 is thereby prevented from moving back. In the outer position of piston 49, a passage 69, leading to the brake cylinder passage 70, is opened to the piston chamber 48, so that fluid pressure may flow to the brake cylinder 6. It will now be seen that when the apparatus is adjusted to the load and the secondary brake cylinders are supplied with Huid under pressure in making an application of the brakes, so that heavy braking power-is obtained. The brake cylinder pressures may be increased in both brake cylinders in the usual manner, by making further reductions in train pipe pressure, as will be evident.

empty position when the pressure is/raised to a predetermined point from the condition of no pressure iii the system, whether the apparatus was previously adjusted to load or empty position. as when all or nearly all the air is out of the system, the heavy spring 34 has sufficient strength to return the piston heads 25 and 27 and the other connected parts to light position and the piston 37 is also retui'ned'to its scat. Upon increasing the piessni'ein the system to (i0 pounds oi' a little above the tension of the spring 39. the piston 37 is shifted to open position on all the cars of the train and this causes the movement of the piston 18' and the valves 2l light biakiiig, gardless of whether the load brake apparatus is setI to load or empty position, when the air goes out of the system the parts on all the ears aie adjusted to the saine position and thus when air pressure is again supplied to the system. at a piedetermiiied degree of pressure. the apparatus on each ear is auton'iatiralllv adjusted to light load position.

liv reason of the larger area of the piston and 23 to the position for struction,

Aductions in train drop in train It will thus be seen that re- 37 exposed to fluid pressure when awayv from its seat, the. pressure at Which Ythe spring 39 can .return the piston to its seat is less than the pressure'required to lift the piston from its seat and also the resistance of the spring 39 is reater in the empty po-f sition of the parts t an in the load position.

Thus When the parts are adjusted to the light or empty position the piston 37 may 60 pounds while requirlift from its seat at y l ing the pressure to fall tol 40 pounds before closing. Vhen thethe spring 3'9-isx elongated and the fiuid pressure required to hold the piston 37 open is reducedtosay 20 pounds. The purpose of the above will be evident from the following considerations: Should the pressure of the system' fall .below 40 pounds by leakage or after making several successive applications of the brakes, no further increase in braking power could be obtained in vtheordinary manner, but With this conthe piston 37 seats at 40 pounds and thereby opens the side of pist-on 18 opposite the spring to the atmosphere through passage and exhaust port of the piston 18are therefore at atmospheric pressure, thus permitting the spring 20,to shift the piston 18 to the load position, and the piston 13 and valve 17 having previously been shifted to application position, air is admitted to the secondary brake. cylinder from the auxiliary reservoir 9, and an increased braking when such increase is likely to be very desirable. On the other hand, if the parts are Provision is made for automatically ad-' just-ing the apparatus on all cars to light or adjusted to vload position, the reduced tension of the spring 39 requires that the fluid pressure reduce to say 20 pounds before the piston 37 vwill be returned to its seat, so that in the' case of loaded cars, ordinary re- .pipe pressure or Where the poraiy, will not operate to adjust the parts to light position, whenthe train pipe pressure is again restored.

While the fluid pressure supplied to the parts are set for load,-

42. Both sides power is provided at a time pipe pressure '1s only tempassage 33 'may be taken directly from thev v train pipe, l. prefer to provide a pipe 71 connected to passage 33 and leading to the.

piston chamber of the triple valve for the ni'ain brake cylinder. As shown in Fig. 7, this pipe 71 communicates with a. passage 72 which opens to the piston chamber 73 at ya point such that normally the passage is train pipe, but when open directly to the the triple valve piston 74 is iii'einergency po- ,sition` said passage is open to the auxiliary i reservoir side ofthe piston. rlhis prevents temporary or sudden reductions iii train pipe pressure fromoperating to 'effect the adjustment of the apparatus'on'thcfloaded cars to light pbsition, as upon such reductions in train pipe pressure. the ti'iple valve piston moves to emergency position and the presand load apparatus is effected.

As shown in Figs. 8, to l0 inclusive, a locking device may be provided for the operating handle 46 for locking the same in load position, comprising a rod 75 having a bentI handle 76 on each end and provided with a locking member 77 having a notch 78. The handle 46 carries a projecting finger 79 adapted to tit into the notch 78. lVhen the handle is turned to load position, shown in Fig. 9, the bent handle 76 is turned so that the notch 78 passes over the finger 79 thereby locking the handle 76 and preventing its movement. It is sometimes desirable `to lock the handle lt6 and the'connected parts, as Where a loaded car is set o'it on a side track temporarily and is not unloaded, and it is desired to prevent the load brake appa ratus from going to light position when fluidl pressure is again supplied to the car.

A port 80 connects the end of the piston stem 28 with the atmospheric side of piston head 25 when the parts are in light position so as to permit the escape of any fluid which may leak past the seat 29 from thev port 32. A port 81 is also provided to connect the stem side of the piston 27 with the atmosphereand similarly permits the escape of fluid which may leak thereto.

The provision of the' two piston heads 25 and .27l is for the purpose of securing the positive action of the parts, in the folloiv ing manner: lf the piston head 25 is retracted by the action of the handle 46 to load position, the movement of the piston head 27 Will be dependent on the opposing pressures of the spring 66,v and the fluid pressure acting on the exposed area of the stem 28 and the spring 66 being adapted to resist say 20 pounds pressure on said exposed area, the piston will not be shifted unless the pressure in theI brake system ex ceeds 2O pounds, and if the pressure is less than 20 pounds, as s oon as the handle 4,6 is released, the spring 3ft will ret urn the parts to light position, but if the pressure is above 20 pounds, the piston 27 is shifted oifer and the airpressure of the system enters port. 67

g and operatesl on piston 27 to maintain same in the load position against the resistance of the spring 34.

If the pressure of the system acting on the piston 27 Jfalls suddenly, the saine is prevented from moving violently to its seat 'because as soon as the port 67 is closedby the stein 28, the air' in chamber 8O is oonfined and acts as` a dash pot, a port 82 through the piston being provided to permit the gradual relief of air pressure in said chamben.

' In'the t`akeup wedge mechanism shown in Fig. '5, the wedge block 51 firmly held against the thrust of the brake levers `iby means ot a heavy' casing 83 and a coil spring .Fig 6 and comprises a Huid pressure operated piston 85 having a piston stem 86 adapt* ed to act on the wedge block 51.

KAir is supplied to the piston 85 through a pipe 87 which is preferably connected to the exhaust port of the triple valve 4;, so that when the brakes are released on the loaded cars Where the wedge block has been shoved out, air pressure from the brake cylinder l acts on the piston 85 and shifts the same with the Wedge block to release position. An exhaust port 88 is then opened by the piston 85, to permit the exhaust of air from the main brake cylinder 1.

While not essential"to the operation of the invention, the triple valve device eniployed is shown as of the retarded release type having a yielding resistance device 8E) for resisting the movement ot the triple valve from normal full release position to a position in which the release is liiestricted or closed.

Having now described my inventiomwhat l claim as n'ei'v and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

l. In a. load brake apparatus, the combi nation with a main brake mechanism for effecting an application of the brakes, of a secondary brake mechanism for applying the brakes with increased power, a device fortaking up slack caused by the movement of the main brake mechanism, a piston operu ated by fluid under pressure for actuating said device, and means for cutting' the secondary brake mechanism into operation.

2. n a. load brake apparatus, the coinbination with a main brake mechanism oper ating upon a reduction in train pipe pressure 'for effecting an application oit the brakes, of' a. secondary brake mechanism op.

erating upon a reduction in train pipe pressure for applying the brakes with increased power, means for cutting said secondary brake mechanism into and out ot action, and means operating a take-up mechanism. and a piston operated by tiiiid under pressure to actuate said mechanism upon apply ing the brakes with the secondary brake mechanism cut in, to take up slack produced by the movement ot the main brake mechanism.

ln a load brake apparatus, the combination with a main automatic brake mechanisin operated by variations in train pipe pressure for applying the brakes, of a scrondary automatic brake4 mechanism operated by variations in train pipe pressure for applying the brakes with increased power` tem for automatically adjusting said ratus Ifor means for cutting said secondary 'brake mechanism into and out of action, and means for taking up slack produced b y the movement of the main brake mechanism prior to movement of the secondary brake mechanisin upon applying the brakes with the secondary brake mechanism cut in.

4. In an empty and load brake apparatus, the combination with a valve mechanism governed by the pressure in the brake sysappaeinpty or for load braking, ot' means for normally supplying'said pressure of the brake system 'from the train pipe and operating upon an emergency application of the brakes to supply said pressure from the auxiliary reservoir.

ln a light and load brake apparatus,

`the coi'nbination` with a train pipe, triple valve. auxiliary reservoir. and brake c vlindei'. ot' a valve mechanism governed by fluid under pressure supplied from the brake system for automatically adjusting said apparatus to light or load braking, and means tor normally supplying air to said valve mechanism from the train pipe and adapted upon an emergency application tosupply air to said valve mechanism from the auxiliary reservoir.

6. Tn a light and load brake apjiaratus, the combination with a main brake cylinder, a train pipe. auxiliary reservoir. and triple valve. of' a secondary brake cylinder` auxiliaiv reservoir. and triple valve, and means for cutting oill communication from the secondary triple valve to the secondary brake evlinder in light braking. l

7. ln a light and load brake apparatus, the combination with 'valve means for connecting up the apparatus for light or load braking, ot a piston device subject to the opposing jiressures ot' a spring andl the Y sure ot the brake system for controlling said valve means and means for ellecting the positive movement of said piston device.

S. Vln light and load brake controlling mechanism. the combination- With a manually operated mechanism for adjusting the mechanism tor light or for load braking, of a piston subject to the pressure ot the bralte system and adapted to move with said inaniuilly operated mechanism only at a predetermined degree of pressure in the brake system. I

9. ln a light and load brake controlling` mechanism, the combination with a manually operated pist-on head subject ou one side to the jnessure o'f a spring, of a controlling piston subject on one side to the pressure of the brake system, valve means governed by flic movement oit' said controlling` piston for ell'eetiug .the adjustment of' the controlling mechanism t'or light and load braking, said c; cliolling piston being adapted to move with said n'iaiiually operatedliead at a prebraking, a piston subject on l0. In a light and load brake controlling mechanism, the combination with valvev means for effecting the adjustment of said controlling .mechanism for |light or load one side to the pressure of the brake system and on the oppositeside to the pressureof a lspring for controlling the operation of said valve means, a manually operated mechanism for maintaining said piston in light load position and adapted upon movement'to load position to permit the movement of said piston when the pressure ot the brake syste-m acting on the piston exceeds the pressureof said spring.

11. ln a light and load brake apparatus, the combination with a mainbrake mechanism for eilecting an application of the brakes, ot a secondary brake mechanism for applying the brakes ivitli increased power comprising a secondary brakel cylinder, a triple valve, auxiliary reservoir, and train pipe, and valve means operated by Huid under pressure for controlling communication from said triple valve to said secondary 'brake cylinder.

12. ln a light and load brake apparatus, the coinl'iinatiou with a main brake cylinder and piston and a secondary brake cylinder and piston for applying the brakes with increased power. of a ytake-up cylinder and piston and means operated by said take-up piston for taking up slack due to the movement ot' the main brake piston.

13. ln a light and load brake apparatus, the combination with a main brake cylinder and piston and a secondary lbrake cylf inder and piston for applying the brakes with increased power, of a take-up cylinder and piston and a wedge n'ieclianism operated by said take-up piston for taking up slack duc. to the movement oi the main brake piston. 14. Tn a light aud load-brake. apparatus, the combination with a main brake cylinder and piston and inder and piston tor applying the brakes with increased po\ver,-ot` a take-up cylinder and piston, means operated by said take-up piston for taking up slack diie to the movement of tlie main brake piston, and a second fluid pressure operated piston for ettecting the release ot' said means.

l5. ln a light and load brake apparatus, the combination with a main brake cylinder and piston and a secondary brake cylinder and piston fo applying the brakes with increased povver, o't a take-up cylinder and piston. means opei-'atef'l by said take-up pis,- ton l'or taking 4up slack due to thc movement of tlic main brake piston, and apiston device opera-ted by the exhaust air. from the main brake cylindeil in releasing the brakes asecondary brake cyl-- for effecting the release movement of said means.

16. In a light and load brake apparatus, the combination with mechanism for adjusting the apparatus for light and load braking, of a manually operated handle 'for cont-rolling` said mechanism and a manually operated lever for locking said handle in the load position.

17. 1n a light and load brake apparatus,

the combination with mechanism for ad' justing the apparatus for light and load braking, oi a manually ope ated handle fior controlling said mechanism and a separate manually operated lever for locking said handle in the load position.

18. In a lighty and loacl brake apparatus, the

combination with a train pipe, triple valve, auXlliary reservoir, and brake cylinder, o l' a valve mechanism governed by Huid under u 

